Page 54 of Set the Moment
“Monkeys are very agile creatures. Maurice here is probably our calmest primate with him still being a toddler, but please remember that he is still a wild animal. Be gentle, and do not force contact with him. He will come to—Oh!”
I’m taken aback, my body stiffening before softening slightly as tiny, nimble fingers squeeze my nose. Large brown eyes peer up at me as Maurice adjusts himself in my hands. He’d been in Janice’s care as she spoke until deciding to jump into my arms.
His small body reminds me of a baby as I cradle him carefully, holding him just as Janice tried to show.
Oh my goodness, he’s so stinkin’ cute!
Maurice nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck like a baby, and I swoon as the tiny monkey tugs on my ear.
As I hold Maurice, I can feel Jace’s protective gaze on me, watching and recording the moment I spend with the small wild animal.
Janice tells us about the origins of the zoo, explaining how these animals are only in captivity for a small period of time here before being released to a better environment. Many of the animals here were born into captivity or on the verge of death due to animal poachers.
My heart breaks as Janice tells us about Maurice’s origin story. His mom was born in the wild, but was so badly injured trying to escape from poachers thatwhen she arrived in the states to the exotic zoo’s rehab facility, she died shortly after giving birth to him.
He’d likely stay in the zoo’s care for the rest of his life.
I hate humans. We always find a good thing and destroy it. The world is dying because of us, and instead of caring about our ecosystem, we’re more interested in putting highways in the Amazon Rainforest.
I pet Maurice with a bit more care before our time is up and we have to leave for the next exhibit.
My mood bar is in hell by the time we exit the primate exhibit, but Jace is thrumming with energy.
“You were so cute with that little guy!” he exclaims, flicking through pictures on his phone, flashing a photo of me looking down at Maurice.
I try to smile, but it isn’t as bright as before. Those poor animals deserve to be in their homes, not in a shelter.
“Let’s check out one last place before leaving, I promise this will bring your mood up.” Jace grins, grabbing a hold of my hand sending sparks of electricity up my arm as I follow behind.
His happiness and excitement warms my mood a bit, and soon enough I find myself grinning as I realize which exhibit we’re waiting to enter.
The kangaroos.
Now, I don’t know if this is because I had a strange obsession with Australian animals as a child or because I’m a grown adult who knows what flight or fight is, but the idea of being in a semi-enclosed space near kangaroos sends my hackles rising.
When we were kids, I would drone on about my fascinations and obsessions with Jace. Sharks, kangaroos, and monkeys were always a topic of discussion between us, and it looks like he’d remembered.
We’re about to enter the exhibit when a small fur ball skitters past us, running across our feet. Jace lets out the shrillest, most ear-splitting shriek that I’ve ever heard from a man.
My jaw drops as my eyes register the small black cat that ran past, its eyes and paws too big for its body.
“Don’t—” he tries to stop me, but my eyes are already filled with mirthful tears as I fail to conceal my humor.
“Oh my gosh!” I cackle, doubling over in laughter. Did this man just scream over a kitten?! I add in a knee slap for some extraumph.
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Laugh all you want, angel. When that little demon spawn tries to claw your eyes out, I don’t want to hear anything,” he pouts, causing me to laugh harder at his expense.
In all my years of knowing him, never have I ever thought that he’d be afraid ofcats, of all things.
“So wait…let me get this straight: you’re scared of cats, of all things, but akangaroois nothing?!” I ask in between laughs, still reeling from his pitiful scream. Jace purses his lips, sick of my antics as he ushers me into the exhibit.
“I’m not scared of kangaroos or cats…it was just a fluke,” he mutters unconvincingly, guiding me to where one of the zoo’s workers stands inside of the exhibit.
The woman is tall with deep brown skin. Her hair is in a beautiful array of blonde and brown French braids that are pulled into a bun with a few strands out.
I admire her hair, marking it in my brain for a possible style to try as she smiles at us, inviting us into the exhibit.
“Hi, guys! My name’s Shayla. Did you two want to feed our joey here? He’s Nox, sweet little thing, might I add. His brother and sister are over there sleeping.” Shayla beams as she pets Nox’s shoulder.
